NEW YORK (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc <PEP.N> reported lower
quarterly profit on Thursday, hurt by a higher tax rate and a
decline in sales volume of carbonated soft drinks.

The company, which makes Pepsi Cola drinks, Frito Lay
snacks and Quaker oatmeal, said net income for the fourth
quarter ended December 29 was $1.26 billion, or 77 cents per
share, compared with $1.83 billion, or $1.09 per share, a year
earlier.

Excluding restructuring charges and tax items, the company
earned 80 cents per share, meeting the average estimate of
analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

Net revenue for the quarter rose to $12.35 billion, from
$10.57 billion a year ago.

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For 2008, PepsiCo said it expects performance to be in line
with its long-term targets. The company is expecting sales
volume to rise 3 percent to 5 percent, net revenue to rise at a
mid-to-high single digit percentage rate and earnings per share
of at least $3.72.

The company said it expects total worldwide costs to rise
at a mid-single-digit rate.

Last month Pepsi Bottling Group Inc <PBG.N>, the world's
largest bottler of Pepsi drinks, reported flat sales volume in
the United States and weaker sales of refrigerated drinks, sold
at places such as convenience stores and service stations.

One analyst said those results implied economic weakness
rather than shorter-term issues such as weather.